St Chad
SY13 2EE
Open. Parking limited. Ramped entrance.
The historic and beautiful Church of St Chad's is largely 14th-century but is built on a Saxon site; it has an 18th-century tower at the west end, nave, chancel and north aisle of the local sandstone blocks.
The church is entered through the ancient north porch, into the north aisle.
THIS WINDOW HAS NOW GONE TO BE RESTORED. IT IS EXPECTED BACK IN APRIL 2026.
St Chad’s Church. Prees, contains medieval stained glass originally installed in Battlefield Church and possibly commissioned by King Henry IV in the mid 1400s. The glass is believed to have been designed by one of the greatest artists of the period – the glass master, John Thornton, who was responsible for the world-famous Great East window in York Minster.
This great artwork is therefore a national treasure – but in the village of Prees! (And unlike York Minster, which costs about £18 to go into and the glass is rather too high to be able to see, you can see our glass for free, at any time and close up!). The problem is that it is now in a really worrying condition and desperately needs major conservation – both the glass and the surrounding stonework need urgent attention. Condition reports make this really clear: “The … glass corrosion issues, paint loss issues, localised failures in the lead net, and failure of the associated metalwork and stonework are all worse than reported in 2014, and continue to pose a live threat to this heritage asset of exceptional significance.’
The estimated cost is a total of £44,700 plus VAT, plus a contingency of 20%.
Can you help? Please see attached leaflet for more information or go to: https://gofund.me/4690f59d
Thank you!
DOWNLOAD A FASCINATING PDF ABOUT THE BATTLEFIELD WINDOW APPEAL HERE
In the Sandford chapel in the north aisle (right), is another notable window which includes fragments of medieval glass brought to Prees from the site of the Battle of Shrewsbury, 1403. Below it is a piscina and some fine Victorian tiles.
The chancel (left) is Victorian and richly decorated with some fine glass. Opinion is divided as to whether the reredos should hide the east window.
There are two fonts. The one outside the north door is dated 1762, and was replaced by the one in the nave in 1850
Left: The nave, looking west.
Right: the north aisle, looking west.
These pictures show the majesty and size of this church. Note the magnificent cartwheel roof made from 30 oak trees donated by the Sandford family in around 1650
There are two cast iron grave slabs in the
churchyard. These are most unusual, although there are one or two more at Coalbrookdale and Madeley churches. This one is a memorial to the Kent family, dated after 1848.
The little figure on the right, beneath an old poor box, is said to represent Charity. A woman holds a baby in each arm, with two toddlers at her feet.
Probably C16 or early C17, it is on the end of a pew near the north door.
The church is Grade 2* listed. St Chad's is part of the PEW group of churches in North Shropshire - working together with St Mary's, Whixall and St Mary the Virgin Edstaston.
PICTURES FROM 'A CHURCH NEAR YOU' and AP
Text: AP, Historic England and St Chad's guide book.
Read more at https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/4445/
This church does not appear in the current edition of 'A Guide to Shropshire's Churches', but is a member of Shropshire Churches Tourism Group.